Improvement in water-relief valves for steam-engines



J'OEL SMITH, Jr. Improvement in Water Relief Valves for Steam Engines.

Patented March 5, 1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JOEL SMITH, JR, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND OR- LANDO M. HARPER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-RELIEF VALVES FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,392, dated March 5, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOEL SMITH, J12, of Allegheny City, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Escape for Steam-Cylinders and I do hereby declare the following to be a .full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional View of a steam-cylinder with myimprovement attached, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View through the line w 00, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section through y 3 Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

The ordinary mode of discharging the water of condensation from steam-cylinders is to open the cocks at the opposite ends of the cylinder, and blow through, as it is called. By my improvement I dispense with the use of cocks, save, a considerable part oftheir cost, and avoid the waste of steam caused by blowing through.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and mode of operation.

The steam-cylinder b is of the usual or any known construction, and is fitted in the usual way with a piston, b and piston-stem b From the lower side of the opposite ends of the cylinder the ports a a lead, each by a suitable connection, into apipe, d d. The outer or free end of each pipe (I 61 extends into a suitable valvebox, f, and from the chamber occupied by its extreme end an escape-port, g, opens into the external air. From the side of the box f, opposite to the open end of each pipe d or d, a

set-screw, c, is arranged to play up to or toward the open mouth of such pipe, the forward end of the set-screw having a valve-face such as may fit against and close the open end of such pipe; or, if so preferred, a wing-valve, c, or other valve of suitable form-may be arranged as shown between the end of the set-screw a and the open end of the pipe, so that it may be adjusted to or from the open end of the pipe at pleasure. The stay-rods h, of suitable form and construction, simply connect the valveboxes f, one at the open and free end of each pipe (I d, with a block, f, to which the other end of the pipe is rigidly connected. The blocks fand f are preferablymadein one piece, though this is not essential, as the valve-boxes may be made separate, and in fact both pipes may terminate in a single valve-box arranged midway between the ends of the cylinder.

In operation, the valves 0 are properly adjusted with reference to the open ends of the pipes 01 d, so that the longitudinal expansion of the pipes d d, caused by the hot steam therein, will seat the open ends of the pipes against the valves, and thereby close the escape. As the water of condensation accumulates, it naturally flows into the pipes d d, and gradually lowers their temperature till they contract, when it escapes at the escape ports g. The entry of steam then again expands them and closes them up.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In combination with a steam-cylinder, b, the arrangement of ports a a, expansible pipes 61 cl, with valves and escape-ports at the open or free ends of the pipes, constructed substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I, the saidJoEL SMITH, J r., have hereunto set my hand.

JOEL SMITH, JR.

Witnesses:

A. S. NIoEoLsoN, O. M. HARPER. 

